Airline Pilot Central Forums - View Single Post - Misdemeanor and a First Class Medical

12-07-2014 | 04:04 PM

#7

MaxThrustPower

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Joined: Aug 2014

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I understand why you are alarmed and this situation shouldn't be taken casually. That being said, I think the best thing to do is relax and work through this one step at a time. It's probably not as bad as you might think.

If the circumstances are exactly as you described and you truly do not have a problem with alcohol abuse, you have absolutely nothing to worry about! The FAA is just practicing due diligence.

In the past 10 to 15 years, the FAA has become increasingly interested in and intolerant of any history of alcohol abuse or behavior which may be leading up to an alcohol problem. I know much about this from my personal background. However, 'intolerant' does *NOT* mean that they will flat-out deny your medical certificate with no opportunity for you to qualify in the future. It simply means that they want to know if you have a problem and, if you do, to make sure you have been treated for it just as they would require of any medical condition. Chemical / alcohol dependency is a treatable medical condition.

A concise, but honest statement from you is probably all they need. It may not be necessary but having an attorney review the statement prior to your sending it might be a good insurance policy against a longer bureaucratic review process. I imagine there is an 80% or more chance that the matter will simply end there.

If the statement leads them to question if you have a problem, they won't diagnose it by your letter. They will send you for a more thorough substance abuse evaluation by a SAP (Substance Abuse Professional), probably a psychologist or psychiatrist. While that review might be expensive and intimidating, even it is nothing to be afraid of but especially if you don't have a problem. The one-hour or so interview and resulting report will tell the FAA if the SAP has reason to believe you have an addiction problem.

I seriously doubt any of the following will apply to you, but I just wanted to outline the next steps that might follow, **IF** treatment was necessary. There is nothing to fear here. My point is that all they want to do is make sure that if you have a problem, that it has been treated successfully. If the report indicates a diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence, the FAA may require you to attend some type of in-patient or out-patient treatment, enter individual and/or group counseling, and document attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. They would likely also require 100% abstinence from alcohol or non-prescribed mood altering drugs. You might have to provide proof of abstinence through urine, blood, or hair tests supervised and sponsored by your AME or counselors.

For commercial pilots, the HIMS program will probably apply. That is a program of rehabilitation for pilots with a chemical dependency problem. (See: Home )

You might be required to be monitored by an AME familiar with HIMS and stay in monitoring for a 3-5 years to keep your medical certificate. After monitoring ends, your only requirement would be continued abstinence.

Feel free to private message me if you like and best wishes getting this resolved promptly with the FAA.

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